Nebraska

Nebraska National Guard and Tanzania formalize State Partnership

Published

2 months ago

March 31, 2026

Nebraska National Guard and Tanzania formalize State Partnership

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U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, left, the Nebraska Adjutant General, and General Jacob John Mkunda, Chief of Defence Forces for the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces, sign a formal letter of intent in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, March 12, 2026. The agreement officially links the Nebraska National Guard and Tanzania through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program.
(Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Gauret Stearns)

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Senior military and civilian leaders from the United States and Tanzania pose for a group photo following a State Partnership Program signing ceremony in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, March 12, 2026. The partnership aims to strengthen security cooperation and bilateral ties between the two nations.
(Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Gauret Stearns)

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DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – In a move that significantly expands U.S. security cooperation in East Africa, military leaders from the Nebraska National Guard and the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces officially formalized their partnership on March 12.

The historic ceremony, held in Dar Es Salaam, centered on the signing of a formal letter of intent by General Jacob John Mkunda, Chief of Defence Forces for the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces and Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, the adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard. The agreement marks Tanzania’s official entry into the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, a relationship that has been developing since early 2024.

The proceedings were overseen by several high-ranking officials, including Tanzania Minister of Defence Rhimo Nyansaho, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Andrew Lentz and senior military and civilian leaders from both nations.

“It is a great privilege welcoming you [the U.S. delegation] here,” said Nyansaho, who holds a doctorate in business economics. “This ceremony represents a significant milestone in the continuing relationship between our two countries and militaries.”

Lentz emphasized that the day represented more than a bureaucratic milestone.

“Today, we don’t just sign a document – we strengthen a friendship and forge a partnership that will benefit our nations for years to come,” Lentz said. “The fact that we are here today, that we signed the agreement, that the minister and generals are present among these many witnesses, is proof that we have succeeded. We are now ready to move forward together, making our countries safer, stronger and more prosperous.”

Lentz said that, while security is the primary focus, the “Nebraska connection” offers unique opportunities for collaboration with the state’s leading institutions in agriculture, health research and higher education.

The formal signing is the culmination of years of groundwork, including the Justified Accord exercises of 2025 and 2026, and a senior-level visit to Nebraska by Tanzanian officials in May 2025.

For Strong, the partnership is already bearing fruit. Prior to the ceremony, Strong visited various sites where Nebraska and Tanzanian personnel already were working in tandem.

“It is my firm belief that all successful partnerships must be based upon shared respect, shared commitments and shared friendship,” Strong said. “I have seen this firsthand over the past two days as I’ve visited Lugalo Military Hospital and seen our doctors working side by side to treat Tanzanian citizens, and as I traveled to Msata Military Training Base, where our soldiers are sharing best practices to hone tactical skills.”

Strong pointed out that both Nebraska and Tanzania face similar hurdles in emergency management, disaster response, military preparedness, modernization, public health and regional security.

“Through these efforts, we will continue to be stronger together,” Strong added, using the Swahili phrase: “Nguvu kwa pamoja.”

The State Partnership Program is a Department of Defense initiative that has been building international relations for more than 30 years. Managed by the National Guard Bureau and guided by State Department foreign policy, the program includes 107 partnerships with 116 nations.

Tanzania is now the third official partner for the Nebraska National Guard, which has participated in the State Partnership Program since its earliest days, when it was selected, along with the Texas National Guard, to develop a partnership with the Czech Republic in 1993.

Nebraska

Hundreds lose power across southeast Nebraska after Thursday morning storm

Published

7 hours ago

June 11, 2026

Press Room

Hundreds lose power across southeast Nebraska after Thursday morning storm

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Hundreds of people are without power in southeast Nebraska after a severe storm passed through Thursday morning.

The Lincoln Electric System outage map showed 115 customers without power across the city at 11:36 a.m.

Norris Public Power District’s outage map also shows 45 customers affected by the storm. As of 11:36 a.m., there were nine active outages.

According to the Nebraska Public Power District outage map, 657 customers were affected by the storm. Most of the affected customers were near Plattsmouth in southeast Nebraska. As of 11:37 a.m., 27 customers remain without power.

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Nebraska

Mandatory evacuation orders for area near Crawford, Fort Robinson

Published

17 hours ago

June 11, 2026

Press Room

Mandatory evacuation orders for area near Crawford, Fort Robinson

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered near Crawford, including Fort Robinson State Park, as the South Fork Fire continues to spread in western Nebraska.

According to the City of Crawford, evacuations are currently underway for an area north of Crawford that includes the area south of Dodd Road, west of Dodd Road, and FF Street.

Fort Robinson has also been evacuated.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said Fort Robinson State Park and Peterson Wildlife Management Area have been temporarily closed due to the fire.

The fire has burned approximately 9,000 acres and is currently 0% contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Nebraska Game and Parks said the park and the WMA will remain closed until further notice to support firefighting operations and protect public safety.

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Nebraska

Nebraska State Runner-up and Futures Finalist Matt Brailita (2026) to Swim for Johns Hopkins

Published

1 day ago

June 10, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska State Runner-up and Futures Finalist Matt Brailita (2026) to Swim for Johns Hopkins

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Omaha, Nebraska native Matt Brailita is headed to Baltimore in the fall. He announced his commitment to Johns Hopkins University earlier this spring, writing on social media:

“I am very excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Johns Hopkins University ! I’m extremely grateful for everything my family, friends, and teammates have done to support me every step of the way. A special thanks to Coach Tom and Coach Andy for always pushing me beyond what I believed in. Also a huge thanks to Coach Scott and Coach Chris for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime. GO BLUE JAYS!”

Brailita swam for Omaha’s Millard North High School under coach Andy Cunningham. He wrapped up his senior season with a pair of runner-up finishes at the 2026 NSAA Championships, earning lifetime-best times in both the 200 IM (1:50.84) and 100 breast (56.01). He also notched a PB in the 50 free (20.76) while leading off Millard North’s 200 free relay in prelims. He anchored the same relay in finals, splitting 20.01. Brailita leaves Millard North High School as a 10-time State medalist and a multiple-event team record-holder. He was 2026 Metro Conference champion in the 100 fly and as a member of 2 relays, and he was nominated for Metro Omaha World Herald Swimming Athlete Scholar.

Brailita swims year-round with Greater Omaha Aquatic Leopardsharks under coach Tom Beck. In addition to IM and breast, he excels in fly and free. In March, he competed at Columbia Sectionals, where he finaled in the 50 free (15th), 100 breast (11th), 50 fly (8th), 100 fly (10th), and swam prelims in the 50 breast (8th) and 200 IM (10th). He left the meet with new PBs in the 100 free (46.30), 50 breast (26.25), 50 fly (22.51), and 100 fly (49.86).

Last summer, Brailita hit LCM lifetime bests in the 50 breast (30.81), 100 breast (1:06.84), 200 breast (2:29.93), and 200 IM (2:11.12) at Madison Futures, making finals in the IM. He opened the 2026 long-course season with a pair of PBs (24.83 in the 50 free and 27.09 in the 50 fly) at the GOAL Sprint Cup in April.

Brailita will join the Blue Jays’ class of 2030 with Alistair Guth, Finn Nelson, Lukas Funderburk, Matthew Ko, Nicolas Aldana Huelga, Samuel Zhang, and William Thurk. His best times would have scored in the ‘A’ finals of the 200 IM, 100/200 breast, and 50/200 free, and the ‘B’ finals of the 100 free and 100 fly at the 2026 Centennial Conference Championships.

Best SCY times :

200 IM – 1:50.84
100 breast – 56.01
200 breast – 2:06.83
50 free – 20.76
50 free relay split – 20.01
100 fly – 49.86
200 free – 1:41.83
100 free – 46.30

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